Air conditioning and distributing apparatus



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AIR COEDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 18, 1923 7 1,550,714 A. E. STACEY JR AIR CONDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F led June 18, 1923 Q Q ,11 E

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A. E.-STACEY, JR

AIR CONDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 25, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED E. STACEY, JR., 013 ESSEX FELLS, 'NEW' JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO CARRIER ENGINEERING CORPORATION,

OF NEVARK, NEW JERSEY.

AIR CONDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

" 3 Application filed June 18, 1923.

comprising in itself an air propelling means,

means for humidifying, cooling or otherwise conditioning the air, and an air distributing duct for the delivery of the con; ditioned air, are located in the rooms or portions of the building where the conditioned air is to be used and each unit is adapted to be separately operated or controlled so as to independently regulate, as required, the supply and condition of the air in the room or portion of the building supplied by each unit. Each air conditioning unit in such unit systems preferably comprises an air propelling fan or device with air in lets arranged so that the air delivered by the apparatus can ,be-ret u nr ir ,iro n the room or building, outside air or a suitably proportioned'wnixtiii e b f return and putside air, a discharge or distributing duct which extends from the fan outlet, preferably horizontally in the room near the ceiling, and is adapted to distribute the air into the room substantially throughout the length of the duct, nozzles or devices for spraying water under pressure into the air to humidify the air to the required extent, to the point of saturation if necessary, also, when needed, a heater for the air, and suitable controlling mechanism :for regulating the temperature and humidity of the air which is discharged into the room or building. The air discharge or distributing ductis long enough to extend across or for a con siderable distance across the room or bL1llCl-' ing, depending upon the size of the room or Serial No. 646,130.

building, and it is desirable to regulate the discharge of the air from different portions of the duct so as to give an equal distribution of the air in the different portions of the space supplied by the duct, or so as to enable the distribution of the air to different portions of the room to be independently regulated as may be desired.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide the air distributing duct with deflecting and discharge regulating means of practical and desirable construction, whereby the discharge from different portions of the duct can be regulated to give an equal distribution of the air throughout the room or portion of the building supplied by the 'duct, or to vary the discharge from different portions of the duct, as may be desired. Other objects of the invention are to provide air deflecting and discharge regulating means for the duct which constitute a structure that is separate from the duct and can be readily placed in operative relation to the duct; also to make the air deflecting and discharge regulating structure in separate, standard sections which are alike and can be readily joined end to end in any number to suit ducts of different lengths; also to make each of the sections of the air deflecting and discharge regulating structure complete in itself and including an adjustable discharge regulator so that the complete sections can be quickly and easily placed in position and so that the discharge regulator members of the several sections which are located at different points along the duct can be readily adjusted independently as may be necessary, to give the desired discharge of air from the several parts of the duct; and also toimprove air conditioning and distributing apparatus in the other respects hereinafter de scribed and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, two different embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In the first, the air deflecting and discharge regulating means are arranged beneath, or at the lower portion of the duct, while in the second embodiment, the air deflecting and discharge regulating means are arranged above or at the upper portion of the duct.

Fig. l is a plan view of the first mentioned embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation thereof, a portion of the duct and air distributing means being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section thereof on an enlarged scale on line 83, Fig. 2.

Fig. f is a plan view of the duct and air distributing means on a. reduced scale.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the duct and air distributing means on line 55, Fig. 3, but on a slightly reduced scale.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation, enlarged, on line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the second mentioned embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation thereof on line 88, Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof, enlarged, on line 9-9, Fig. 8.

A represents a room or portion of a building and B represents a centrifugal fan or air propelling device of any suitable construction arranged in said room and connected with a discharge duct C which extends horizontally from the fan near the ceiling of the room or building. The fan is adapted to supply to the discharge duct G outside or fresh air, return air from the room, or a suitably proportioned mixture of outside and return air, and for this purpose the fan inlet is preferably connected with a casing D having a. trunk or portion d extending through the outside wall of the building for-the admission of fresh air, and with admission openings d and (Z for return air from the room. The fan B, discharge duct 0 and easing D, as well as a suitable motor E for driving the fan are all preferably located adjacent to and suitably suspended from the ceiling of the room so as to be out of the way in available space in the upper portion of the room. The fresh air and return air inlet openings of the casing D are provided with suitable dampers 1O, 11 and 12 which can be adjusted so that the fan will supply to the room, outside air alone, return air from the room alone, or both return air and outside air in any desired proportions determined by the adjustment of the dampers. Preferably, these dampers are automatically controlled and are connected by a mechanism of any suitable sort whereby as the return air dampers close, the fresh air dampers will open and vice versa.

F represents a heater arranged in the easing D for heating the air when this is necessary. Any suitable sort of heater may be employed, a steam heater or ordinary construction being shown and arranged in the casing between the return air inlet-s cl and (P, so as to heat the return air admitted through the inlet opening (Z 13 represents spray nozzles arranged to discharge water in a fine spray in the discharge duct- C in advance of and adjacent to the fan, so that the air delivered by the fan to the discharge duct can be humidified or cpgled by means of the water spray. These iiozzles can be constructed and ar ranged in any suitable manner to adapt them, when supplied with water under proper pressure and volume, to insure complete saturation, or even super-saturation of the air, if required, for the purpose of humidifying the air to any required percent, or for cooling the air when desired. A spray water supply pipe 1% extends into the discharge duct G and connects with the nozzles which are disposed so as to produce a fine spray of mist throughout the entire cross section of the duct. The air delivered by the fan passes through the water spray which acts to humidify or cool the air, depending upon the temperature of the air and water which can be regulated so as to give the desired humidity or cooling conditions. As shown, a pump G draws water from a reservoir H and delivers it under pressure to the nozzle supply pipe 14:. lVhen the apparatus is used for dehumidifying air, refrigerated water is supplied to the spray nozzles and the. air from the room is r circulated.

It is ordinarily desirable to locate the discharge duct C as near the ceiling as possible so that it will not occupy space available for other purposes in the room or building, but in order to insure the proper distribution of the air and the desired conditions throughout the different portions of the room or building supplied by the apparatus, it has been found undesirable to discharge the air from the duct very close to the ceiling. In rooms having low ceilings where there is not much available head room, the construction shown in Fig. 1-6 is preferred, in which the air discharges from the lower portion of the discharge duct C. In rooms having high ceilings where there is more available head room, the construe tion shown in Figs. T9 can be employed, in which the air discharges from the upper portion of the duct.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 16, the duct is constructed so that the air can discharge therefrom along its bottom or lower side from a point just in advance of the spray nozzles 13 to the far end of the duct. The duct, as usual, is tapered or gradually diminishes in diameter away from the fan so as to more nearly equalize the discharge of the air from the duct throughout its length. The duct shown is formed with a continuous discharge opening 15 in its bottom, which is uniform in width throughout its length, and the duct is provided along opposite sides of this discharge opening with downbent flanges 16, see Figs. 8 and 6. The air discharging from the duct through the opening 15 is deflected and caused to flow laterally in opposite directions from the duct by directing or deflecting means which are preferably constructed as follows 17 represents a curved air deflector and drain trough which extends lengthwise beneath the duct opposite or below the discharge opening 15, so that the air which discharges downwardly out of the opening 15 will strike the deflector or trough 17 and be thereby deflected laterally in opposite directions and forced to discharge laterally over the side edges of the deflector. The deflector is preferably composed of a plurality of sections or lengths corresponding in length to the component sections of the duct C, the deflector sections being alike and being secured together end to end in any suitable way, as for instance by bolts connecting angle iron flanges 18 on the ends of the sections. The deflector or trough 17 is suspended from the duct by brackets or supports 19 which are suitably attached at their lower ends to the deflector sections and are attached by bolts or other suitable fastenings at their upper ends to side walls. 20 which are attached to and depend from the flanges 16 of the duct at the opposite sides of the discharge opening 15. Each of the side walls 20 is made in sections corresponding in length with the length of the sections of the deflector or trough 17, and each of these side wall sections is preferably formed by a sheet metal plate which is folded upon it self lengthwise between its upper and lower edges, see Fig. 6. The double thickness wall 20 thus formed is preferably bent first outwardly and then downwardly, forming vertical flanges at its upper edge which are detachably secured by bolts or other fastenings 21 to the flanges 16 of the duct, and outer depending vertical port-ions which are offset outwardly beyond the side of the discharge opening 15. The inner plate of the double wall preferably extends downwardly below the outer plate, and its lower edge 22 is bent upwardly to stiffen the lower edge of the wall, while the lower edge of the outer plate of the wall is bent upwardly as shown at 23, to provide a hook or flange for the engagement of an adjustable regulator or deflector plate presently described. The side walls 20 at opposite sides of the dis- I charge opening 15 are connected by transverse vertical plates or baffles 24 which are riveted or otherwise suitably attached at their ends to the side walls and extend horizontally across the opening 15 of the duct below the flanges 16 at opposite sides of the opening 15. These baffle plates 24 prefer ably have their upper edges bent rearwardly or toward the fan end of the duct. These transverse vertical baflles 2t act to intercept or interrupt the flow of the air longitudinally of the duct and deflect the discharging air downwardly against the trough or deflector 17 so that the direction of movement of the air is changed from a longitudinal movement in the duct first downwardly toward the deflector 17, which then deflects the air laterally outward over the side edges of the deflector 17.

Arranged above the trough or deflector 17 at opposite sides of the discharge opening 15 of the duct are adjustable deflectors or discharge regulators These adjustable regulators or deflectors 25 are made in lengths corresponding to the lengths of the sections of the trough or deflector 17, and each adjustable regulator 25 is hinged or movably connected at its inner edge to the adjacent side wall 20 of the device so that its outer edge can be adjusted toward or from the deflector or trough 17 to decrease or increase the opening between the deflectors 17 and 25, for regulating the discharge of air from the duct. Preferably each deflector plate 25 is provided with a downbent inner edge 26 which detaehably engages or hook-s over the flange 23 on the adjacent side wall 20, and the outer portion of the plate 25 rests upon and is supported by an adjusting arm or device 27 which is adapted to be swung to different positions for raising and lowering the outer edge of the deflector plate. As shown, the adjusting arm 27 is pivoted to an adjacent bracket 19 by a thumb screw and nut 28. By loosening this thumb nut, the adjusting arm can be swung to raise or lower the outer edge or the deflector, and the arm can be secured to support the deflector in the adjusted position by tightening the thumb nut. Any other suitable means for adjust ing the outer edges of the deflector plates toward and from the stationary deflector or trough 17 could be employed.

It will be observed that the transverse baffle plates 21 rigidly connect the opposite side walls 20 and that the deflector or trough 17 and also the adjustable deflector plates 25, are connected to and supported by these side walls, so that each section of the air deflecting and discharge regulating structure is complete in itself and can be applied as a unit to the duct C simply by bolting the upper flanges of the side walls 20 to the do-wnbent flanges 16 of the duct. The sections of the air distributing and regulating device can thus be made complete. at the factory, and two or more of the sections bolted together end to end and attached to the discharge duct as may be required, depending upon the length of the duct. lVhen the defleeting and discharge regulating device is in place on the duct, the deflector plates 25 of the different sections of the device are independently movable and can be separately adjusted similarly or differently relatively to the stationary deflector 1'7, as may be required, to secure the desired discharge of air from the duct at different parts of its length. In any case, whatever may be the adjustment of the regulators 25, the air is discharged laterally between the stationary deflector or trough l7 and the adjustable regulators, over the side edge of the stationary trough or deflector. As the air flows through the duct C and as the course of the discharging air is changed by striking the battles 2a and deflectors 17 and 25, any drops or large particles of water which may be entrained with the air will fall into the trough 17, or be intercepted by the baffles and deflectors and drip into the trough 17, and will flow along the inclined bottom of the same to a collecting well or depression 30 provided therein adjacent the water spray devices. The water collecting in the well 30 is returned therefrom through a pipe 31 to the water reservoir H.

Referring now to the construction shown in Figs. 7-9, the duct C is provided along the top or upper portion with a discharge opening or openings 35 and the duct is provided with upbentflanges 36 at opposite sides of the discharge openings. These flanges are preferably stiffened and strength: ened by bending the metal forming them back upon itself to make the flanges of donble thickness, as best shown in Fig. 9. The deflecting and discharge regulating devices in this construction are preferably constructed as follows 37 represents two opposite side walls which have vertical inner portions which extend down. into the discharge opening of the duct at the inner sides of the flanges 36 and are rernovably secured to the flanges by belts or other suitable fastenings 33. The portions of the side walls above the flanges 36 of the duct extend laterally outwardly and upwardly from the flanges and form the stationary walls or parts of the lateral air deflectors. The outer edges of the walls 37 are preferably bent to provide double thickness, stiffening flanges at the outer edges of the walls. The opposite side walls 37 are rigidly connected to each other by vertical transverse ball'le plates which are riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the vertical, inner portions of the side walls and extend transversely across the discharge opening of the duct. Arranged over the dis charge opening of the duct and above the side walls 37 of the deflector is an adjustable deflector and regulator at). This deflector, like the stationary deflector 37, is preferably made in sections corresponding in length with the sections of the duct, from sheet metal plates, the side edges of which are formed with double thickness flanges 41 to stiffen and strengthen the deflector. The deflector i0 is adjustably supported so that it can be set closer to or farther from the stationary deflectors 37, for instance by means of vertical legs or brackets 42 which are riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the regulator l0 and are adjustably secured, as by means of thumb screws and nuts 43 to adjacent baffle plates 39. The thumb screws l3 pass through a vertical slot in the bracket or in the baffle plate to enable the adjustment of the regulator, which is secured when adjusted by tighten ing the thumb screws.

In this construction, as in the construc tion first described, the vertical baflle plates 39 interrupt or intercept the flow of the air lengthwise of the duct and cause it to issue vertically out of the discharge opening 35 against the opposed deflector and regulator 40, which deflects the air laterally and causes it to discharge through the spaces between the outer dges of this regulator and the 0pposite stationary deflectors 37. Since the regulator i0 is adjustable toward and from the stationary deflectors 37, the. discharge f the air can be regulated as required, and since the several sections of the regulator 4:0 are separate and independently adjustable, the discharge of air from different portions of the duct can be regulated as required. In this construction also, the several parts of each section of the air deflector and discharge regulating device are connected together as a unit, and each section of the air deflector and discharge regulating device can be readily secured in place on the duct simply by bolting the side walls 37 of the device to the flanges 36 on the duct atopposite sides of its discharge opening. The large drops or particles of water, which may be entrained with the air flowing through the duct C are adapted to strike on the vertical baflle plates 39 and deflector 40, and drip back into the bottom of the duct, which thus constitutes a drain or catch trough for the rater. The bottom of the duct being inclined downwardly toward the fan, the water is adapted to run along the bottom of the duct to a depression or well 44L, Fig. 7, in the bottom of the duct, from which the water can be returned to the tank or reservoir H, as in the other construction described.

Only the fan, air distributing duct and deflecting and discharge regulating means are illustrated in the modification shown in Figs. 79, but it should be understood that the apparatus is provided with means, such as described in connection with the first construction, for supplying the spray water under pressure, for causing the fan to supply either outside or return air or a regulated mixture of both, and for heating the air when necessary. An apparatus according to my invention, whether of the construction illustrated either in Figs. 1-6 or in Figs. 79, or of equivalent construction, is adapted to distribute air uniformly to the space served thereby, and vary the temperature and humidity of the air to any desired points Within the range of the apparatus. It can supply to the room air at different temperatures completely saturated or even supersaturated with moisture. While large drops or particles of water are prevented from discharging into the room, as explained, the discharging air can carry with it moisture in the form of a mist or cloud in a very flnely atomized condition.

Automatic regulation can be readily applied to the system. A practical and simple method of regulation is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the supply of steam to the heater F is controlled by means of a dry bulb thermostat 50 located in the room to regulate the temperature of the air delivered to the room, and the humidity of the air is regulated by a hygrostat 51 in the room controlling the water supply to the spray nozzles, and also preferably the fresh and return air dampers. The thermostat and hygrostat can effect the regulation through the medium of any usual or suitable instrumentalities. For instance, the thermostat controls the pressure of compressed air from a supply pipe 52 for actuating a diaphragm valve 53 in the steam supply line 5 to the heater, and the hygrostat- 51 similarly controls the pressure of compressed air for oper ating a diaphragm valve 55 in the spray water pipe, and an actuating motor 56 suitably connected to the fresh and return air dampers 10, 11 and 12.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, and means for varying the width of said openings between the duct and deflector to regulate the dis charge of the air.

2. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, laterally extending deflectors between the duct and said first mentioned deflector, and means for readily adjusting said deflector for varying the width of said openings between the ductand deflector to regulate the discharge of the air.

3. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, and means for independently varying the width of different portions of said openings between the duct and the deflector to independently regulate the discharge of the air from different portions of the duct.

1. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, and adjustable deflectors for varying the width of said openings between the duct and first mentioned deflector to regulate the discharge of the air, said deflectors being constructed of separate sections arranged end to end along the duct.

5. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for deliver'ng air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, and means for varying the width of said openings between the duct and deflector to regulate the discharge of the air, said deflector and discharge regulating means being constructed of separate sections arranged end to end along the duct, and the discharge regulating means of the several sections being independently adjustable.

6. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector ext-ending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, means for varying the width of said open ings between the duct and the deflector to regulate the discharge of the air, said defl-ector and discharge regulating means comprising connected parts of a structure separate from the duct, and means for securing said structure in operative relation to the duct.

7. The combination of an air distributing duct "which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, battles for deflecting the discharging air outwardly against said deflector, adjustable members for varying the width of said openings between the duct and the deflector to regulate the discharge of the air, said deflector, discharge regulating means and baflles comprising connected parts of a structure separate from the duct, and means for securing said structure in operative re lation to the duct.

8. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a defiector extending lengthwise ot' the duct opposite said discharge opening and arranged to leave openings between its side edges and the duct for the escape of the air laterally between the deflector and the duct, adjust able members for varying the width of said openings between the duct and deflector to regulate the discharge of the air, said deflector and adjustable members comprising connect-ed parts of a structure separate from the duct, which structure is composed of separable sections, and means for securing said sections end to end in operative relation to the duct.

9. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along one side thereof for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct opposite said discharge opening, side deflectors arranged between said other deflector and the duct at opposite sides of said discharge opening, and means for varying the width of the spaces between said side deflectors and said other deflector for regulating the discharge of the air.

10. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along its bottom for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct beneath said discharge opening, adjustable side deflectors arranged between said other deflector and the duct at opposite sides of said discharge opening, and means for adjusting said side deflectors relatively to said other deflector for regulating the discharge of the air.

11. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along its bottom for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct beneath 7 said discharge opening, side walls secured to said duct at opposite sides of said discharge opening, side deflectors movably connected to said side walls and extending laterally therefrom between said other deflector and the duct, and means for adjusting the outer edges of said side deflectors relatively to said other deflector.

12. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along its bottom for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a detector extending lengthwise of the duct beneath said discharge opening, side walls detach-ably secured to said duct at opposite 'SlC es of said discharge opening, suppolts connecting said deflector to said side walls, side. deflectors movably connected to said side walls and extending laterally there from between said other deflector and the duct, and means supported by said side walls for adjusting the outer edges of said side deflectors relatively to said other deflector.

13. The combination of an air distributing duct which is open along its bottom for the discharge of air from the duct, means for delivering air to the duct, a deflector extending lengthwise of the duct beneath said discharge opening, side walls detachably secured to said duct at opposite sides of said discharge opening, said side walls being formed of sheet metal folded at the upper portions of said walls to form inner and outer wall plates and said outer plates having hooked lower edges, laterally extending side deflectors having flanged inner edges hooked over said hooked edges of said outer plates, and means for adjusting the outer edges of said side deflectors.

ALFRED E. STACEY, JR. 

